Forum 35 pushes for Baton Rouge anti-discrimination ordinance

Updated July 17, 2014 at 9:07 PM;Posted July 17, 2014 at 3:07 PM

Baton Rouge Metro Council

The Baton Rouge Metro Council is set to vote July 23 on a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance. (Photo by Brianna Paciorka, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
(Brianna Paciorka, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

The young professional's group Forum 35 has joined those urging the Baton Rouge Metro Council to pass an ordinance to prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"The time for the Metro Council to pass this ordinance is now," Eric Dexter, president of Forum 35, said in a statement. "More and more national polls show that young adults support equality and value inclusion and fairness."

Much of the support for the ordinance is coming from people in the business community, like those in Forum 35, who have been trying to appeal to council members by pushing it as an economic development issue. The group Be Fair Baton Rouge's leaders include local businesspeople, and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation released a poll this week showing 62 percent of respondents in the area were in support. The advocates say that the city-parish needs to show it can be a welcoming place.

"If Baton Rouge hopes to recruit and retain young professionals, we need to join the almost 200 U.S. cities who have adopted similar ordinances," Dexter said. "We urge the Metro Council to approve this resolution."

The ordinance could still have a tough time passing. Multiple council members have publicly said they won't vote for it. Some say they feel adequate protections are already in place to stop discrimination, while others worry that it could expose businesses to lawsuits.